The Ascension Of The Celestial Priest

Lukas stared at the twinkling stars under the velvet sky. Leaning on a wooden patio decorated with climbing leaves, holding a drink in hand while laughter and dancing went on in the background he felt like he had the whole world to himself.

He smiled as he saw a couple under the blissful night going to a dark hidden corner. Chuckles and giggles trailed their way as the beautiful girl led the pitiful man by the nose with her eyes filled with mischievous d.e.s.i.r.e. Leaving the misfit couple, His eyes lightly followed the metallic whirls of carriages driving up and down the stone path while his ears drew a few wisps of conversations overshadowed by the din of music and laughter from the tavern below. He felt as if he was the silent bystander, watching a strange world turn its usual gears as usual while he felt oddly disconnected from it all.

Feeling a little lonelier and homesick, his head flitted back to the sky above. He used to night watch countless of times in his past life that he could tell of the stars above his old world by heart. He reminisced those precious moments he used to have with his partner, having late night conversations under the blanket of shifting stars, making plans for their future together and their respective careers. He was truly happy at the time. But now he could recognize none of the stars above his new sky and all of his old life has been reduced into a series of memories he would forever carry…

Mired in his thoughts so deeply, it took him more than a few seconds to realize he had company by his side.

"Hey," Geoff came to stand beside him bringing a smell of butter beer with a hint of a fresh woody scent that assaulted his senses. Drawn to it, it quietly lifted his mood, manifesting a genuine smile out of him.

"Hi," Lukas warmly responded as he couldn't help but stare at him intently. Geoff just had that face that made him feel familiar to it almost as if he had seen it somewhere before…

"I have been meaning to say thanks," Geoff said, "for healing me back in the catacombs."

It was a personal gratitude and Lukas accepted it without flair.

Lukas said, "It was a stroke of fortune that I had mastered that spell. It would have ended very differently if hadn't…"

"Still" Geoff honestly smiled, "it was because of your efforts and quick thinking that we made it in the end."

Lukas took a swig of his drink before he sighed, "But in the end my strength was barely enough…"

Geoff encouraged as he added, "That's might true at the moment but with your potential, its only a matter of time before your strength soars and your fame reaches the skies." His optimism and fervent belief shone through his blue eyes.

Lukas deeply looked into them before he smiled. Geoff's enthusiasm was infectious and he found himself basking in it as a moment of silence passed between them. Geoff kept throwing a few glances at Lukas before he suddenly asked.

"Do you miss home?"

A little taken aback, Lukas shot back a question. "Why do you ask?"

Geoff straight forwardly answered, "Your mind kept travelling every time you looked at the stars…"

"Ohh!" Lukas slightly blushed, realizing he had forgotten himself in the cloud of nostalgia.

"Well…" he said. "I do, especially more than a few times lately"

Geoff smiled, "its okay," he said. "You can tell me all about it."

Lukas gave him a glance, almost as if he was hesitating about something before he shook his head, divulging a little bit.

"My real home isn't anywhere near here." He began, "it's far away, a much grander place, with a City where people never sleep."

He paused and then looked at Geoff with a hidden smile. "It has buildings that rise up to the sky, countless of people milling around in hundreds and at night its streets are filled with brighter light…and we had all of that without the help of any magic."

Geoff listened with rapt attention, fascinated. "A city full of light but without magic?" he incredulously asked.

Lukas nodded. "In fact I might be one of the lucky few blessed with magic." Lukas said before he continued to weave an impossible tale in Geoff's ears that took a long while for him to recover. He spoke of automatons that flew that flew in the sky and ones that easily moved the grounds; he spoke of famous storytellers and unparalleled musicians. It was a place where art and science shone to its finest.

Of course Lukas was very careful in his exposition, keeping in mind to mute most of the details he found too esoteric to tell and some things that he would take all night explain to someone who was a native in a world of magic.

In the midst of disbelief and absorbed conversation, by the time he was done a comfortable silence settled between them. Lukas's mood was invariably better after having someone he could share a small piece of his old world while Geoff's horizons were too widened to even realize the fact that what he was told, even to a small degree was just a small peek to a whole other universe.

Trying to distract Geoff from what he just absorbed, Lukas asked a question he had in his mind ever since he met them the first time.

"Can I ask something?" Lukas began.

Shaking his head, Geoff nodded. "Sure."

"Are you and Mira from the same house?"

Geoff smiling shook his head. "The answer lies in between." he continued as he subconsciously leaned closer. "Once a hundreds of years ago, my great-great grandfather, a warrior of humble origins saved the life of her Family ancestor's. Since then as a show of gratitude my lineage was sworn as guardians to the rest of the descendants of the House of Fyre. Thus ever since I was born, I was destined to be her shield as I have always been ever since we were little."

His face shone with pride as he said it.

Amused Lukas said, "Then both of you must have had a lot of crazy adventures…"

His face shining with fervor it was almost as if a fuse was lit as Geoff broke into a tirade of the countless adventures he had ever since he could wield a blade.

Their conversation got so deep that both, Lukas and Geoff weren't aware of just how much distance they were close from each other. The previous few meters were now nearly absent and Lukas was such a good listener that it allowed Geoff to really open up. They were just about to embark on one of the close shaves Geoff once had with Mira when they both felt a flitting presence silently joining them, effectively interrupting their conversation.

The silent presence immediately raised their vigilance, and after exchanging wary looks, they swiftly transformed into their battle stance. Lukas summoned the Starlight staff into his hands while Geoff unsheathed his blade in a heartbeat ready for confrontation.

"Who is there?" Geoff demanded, ready to defend while Lukas had his starlight staff prepared and his hand poised, ready to cast a runic spell at the first notice of danger.